LIVE! and YWCA Pair for 2013 Women of Achievement

This year’s YWCA of Columbus Women of Achievement luncheon marks the twelfth year that LIVE! Technologies and The YWCA of Columbus have partnered to produce the prestigious event.  The luncheon attracts a group of over 2,000 attendees from major companies and community organizations based in the Columbus and Central Ohio region to recognize the achievements of local women and achievements of women on the rise.  This event gives LIVE! Technologies an opportunity to showcase our magnificent production talents to a diverse group of members of the community.

There are few other events LIVE! Technologies produces throughout the year that has such a large mixture of community members present to see the beautiful production work that LIVE! Technologies delivers for the Women of Achievement luncheon.  This gives us at LIVE! Technologies a unique opportunity to make visible the talented group of audio, video, lighting and creative personnel we have working at LIVE! Technologies.  This chance to exhibit our strength in live events production is something we take as seriously as the production of the event itself.

One of the most prominent talents at LIVE! Technologies that takes center stage at the Women of Achievement event is our Creative Services team.  Before the room has fully cleared the design team is hard at work creating designs for next year’s stage production.  The efforts of this diligent team of imaginative designers are sometimes overlooked on smaller event but this is always their opportunity to pull out all the stops and create a unique look that is truly a masterpiece of design and creativity.  Working hand-in-hand with the design team the rest of the creative services department created custom set-graphics, produced video profiles of the year’s award-winners and designed a branded presentation to support the award ceremony.  The countless hours of work begin months prior to the show and resulted in a stunning product that left all in attendance inspired.

The Women of Achievement luncheon was held in the expansive Battelle Hall, in order to transform that room into a cohesive looking event space LVIE! Technologies looked to take advantage of the distinct lighting styles each of the different fixtures offers from our extensive lighting inventory.  Hanging a mix of over 40 lighting fixtures including: MAC IIIs and Auras; Martin Vipers and DL3s, gave the LIVE! Lighting technicians the flexibility to create individualized lighting looks to the different segments of the event for each award recipient.  The DL3 fixtures were used to project custom designed images onto on-stage set flats—these gave the backdrop another dimension that also acted as a walkway for the on-stage talent and award recipients to enter and exit the stage.  Our inventory is only a portion of what helps make live events produced by LIVE! Technologies remarkable—the skill and inventiveness found in all of the live event technicians working for LIVE! Technologies is what takes a superior event and makes it truly exceptional.

Our approach and passion is finding ways to bringing new and fresh looks to each event that LIVE! Technologies produces.  After working with the YWCA of Columbus for over a decade being able to continually set the bar higher shows that passion in delivering exceptional live events production to our clients.  At LIVE! Technologies the desired outcome of our creative process is to always inspire our audiences—working with clients such as the YWCA of Columbus over a long period allows us to refine that process and to deliver the best live events production to all of our clients.  We look forward to working with the YWCA of Columbus on future products for years to come and wish the heartiest congratulations to all of this year’s Women of Achievement.

Filed under: events,galas special events,live events,liveblog,portfolio

Taking a Look Back at 2012

2012 was another outstanding year for LIVE! Technologies, with both the Rental Production and Systems Integration divisions seeing growth throughout the year.  Another big milestone in the history of LIVE! Technologies was undertaking the move into a new, upgraded building–allowing the company to continue on its path of rapid expansion.  Building off the portfolio of outstanding work with existing clients, LIVE! Technologies was able to leverage these well-known successes to build its client base with new, exciting clientele.  Working with both existing and new clients LIVE! Technologies’ Rental Production division was the face of event production in several high-profile events:  the grand opening of both the nation’s largest pediatric hospital expansion at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and the largest gambling facility in the state, as well as helping the city of Columbus celebrate one of the biggest landmarks in the history of the city of Columbus.  Not to be outdone, LIVE! Technologies’ Systems Integration division worked on an impressive 120 installations throughout 2012–which works out to about one install project every three days.  Our Systems Integration division worked on projects that allow our clients to communicate and preform more efficiently.  Throughout 2012 LIVE! Technologies brought its excellence in event production–the following are reflections on some of the standout projects both divisions of LIVE! Technologies had the privilege of collaborating on.

 

October saw a big premiere in Columbus with the opening of the Hollywood Casino on the west-side of Columbus.  LIVE! Technologies was there to bring all the glitz and glamor of Las Vegas to the grand opening of one of the largest gaming facilities in the state.  A pep-rally for the employees, was held at Battelle Hall in downtown Columbus, the week before the grand opening of the casino to the public.  Battelle Hall was transformed into a high-energy party atmosphere–a stage in the center of the room, surrounded by a state-of-the-art sound system, was the centerpiece of the stunning production throughout the space.  Projection screens circling the room provided that even the worst seat was the best in the house–four16X9 screens were used throughout the show to videos introducing the different departments and to show off the Sony High Definition cameras recently added to the LIVE! Technologies production inventory.  Once the employees were ready for the casino to open it was onto opening the new gaming destination to the public.  Dignitaries from around Columbus and the country–Mayor Michael Coleman, Archie Griffin, Columbus-native Buster Douglas, Viva Las Vegas-star Ann Margret and representatives from Penn National Gaming were in attendance at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.  Supported by the stelar production offerings by LIVE! Technologies the event was a blockbuster and the public was ready for its first glimpse of the new Hollywood Casino Columbus.

The biggest celebration in Columbus this past year was one 200 years in the making–the bicentennial of Columbus.  The year-long celebration saw engagement throughout the community, culminating in the massive 200Columbus gala.  LIVE! Technologies was the obvious choice for creating the celebratory atmosphere for the festivities–bringing the distinctive production the company has become known for throughout the city.  To help celebrate such a significant milestone in the city’s history LIVE! Technologies brought cutting edge production to the event.  Custom kiosks, built by LIVE! Technologies by the in-house fabrication shop, displayed WOSU produced documentaries about various historic neighborhoods around Columbus–as well as several interactive kiosks with content produced by LIVE! Technologies’ in-house creative services department.  The task of changing the look of the stage throughout the show without time for set changes presented an interesting challenge.  As is the case with other challenges presented to LIVE! Technologies, the answer to the question was in the technology already in use by LIVE! Technologies.  The creative services department, working with the fabrication and video departments, came up with a solution: 3D projection.  However, this wasn’t the 3D projection that involves wearing cumbersome glasses.  Using image-mapping within the multi-projector software Watchout, LIVE! Technologies was able to project onto set-flats designed by the fabrication department giving the look of a nearly 80-foot continuous, 3D image.  The show may have been two centuries in the making, however with LIVE! Technologies in control of the audio, video and lighting production it was truly a show that won’t be surpassed for another 200 years.

How many of you have enjoyed the Columbus Symphony or one of the many other events at Columbus Commons?  In January the LIVE! Technologies Systems Integration installation crews were hard at work, in less than optimum weather, to insure that the sound and lighting systems were properly performing for the grand opening of the venue.  Capitalizing on their work with will theaters around Columbus and surrounding Central Ohio region,  LIVE! Technologies SI installation team traveled to Wheeling, West Virginia to work on The Capitol Theatre audio system upgrade.  The theater is now using a new Nexo Geo S12 line array speaker system. Our industry trained installation technicians worked tirelessly to guarantee the 2,400 seat theatre auditorium has uniform audio coverage in both the balcony and main floor.  The historic Veterans Memorial Auditorium joined other downtown theaters by upgrading their audio system to a Yamaha M7Cl digital mixing console.  The Veterans Memorial audio system renovation also included multichannel microphone snakes, wireless microphones and equipment cases.

Continue with the previous work LIVE! Technologies has done with houses of worship—several installation projects were completed during 2012.  City Church in Chicago added a high definition image magnification and streaming package to their sanctuary video.  New cameras, a HD SDi video switcher and audio recording console added a new dimension to their worship services.  Dublin Baptist Church upgraded their audio system with a new digital audio console, new floor pockets and an exploded speaker cluster to the sanctuary.  St. John Neuman Church in Delaware, Ohio opened a new Fellowship Center that features audiovisual systems with automated room dividing, projection and distributed audio with touch screen control.  The Mount Vernon Nazarene University replaced the dimming and architectural control for their Chapel to complete a renovation that began in 2011 with the addition of an ETC Element console.

Whether at the game or working out, audio is usually the last thing on your mind.  However, at LIVE! Technologies we understand that a good audio system keeps both players and spectators’ minds in the action.  LIVE! Technologies SI division worked with Bluffton University at the new Sommer Athletic and Fitness Center.  Ensuring the basketball teams, volleyball teams and the student body would enjoy a new arena sound system and integrated multimedia classroom and gathering spaces.  All of these spaces utilize Crestron equipment for local control and centralized monitoring.  Heading south LIVE! Technologies’ first-rate SI installation team helped upgrade the new Competition Pool in the Mitchell Athletic Center at Denison University.  The state-of-the-art natatorium opened this past fall with a cutting-edge sound system and extensive video recording system to better train their swimmers and monitor swim meets. The system includes four fixed PTZ cameras and multiple inputs for the addition of underwater cameras.

2013 will provide the opportunity to work again with the outstanding clients that provide LIVE! Technologies opportunities to excel in the field of event production–with some genuinely thrilling events already in the works and a growing list of clients wanting to work with the company.  Taking some time to reflection on amazing successes throughout the past year allows LIVE! Technologies to celebrate groundbreaking triumphs, however LIVE! technologies does everything except look back.  Keeping both eyes laser focused on the future and looking to take advantage of the glowing reception these andmany other events brought to LIVE! Technologies is what has helped grow LIVE! Technologies throughout the years.  2013 will certainly be another amazing year of growth and opportunities to again blow away the clients and competition.

Filed under: events,galas special events,liveblog

Hollywood Casino and LIVE! bring Red Carpet Premiere to Columbus

This past week LIVE! Technologies helped the highly-anticipated Hollywood Casino Columbus opened its doors to hundreds of gamers and VIPs, from around the country and Columbus area.  The event, three years in the making, was the final of three opening events that LIVE! Technologies produced for Hollywood Casino Columbus.  Two weeks prior the massive work staff of Hollywood Casino Columbus filled Battelle Hall for a team member pep rally and a week before the grand opening of the casino an invitation-only demo day was held at the Hollywood Casino Columbus.  All three events brought in thousands of excited gamers, staff members and VIPs from all across the state and country–over 9,000 people attended the soft opening of Hollywood Casino Columbus alone!

On September 28th, LIVE! Technologies filled Battelle Hall with all the lights, sights and sounds familiar to a casino as over 2,000 employees, from table dealers to security personnel and kitchen staff, filled the vibrant space.  As the high-energy crowd entered the space photos from around the casino scrolled across video projection screens encircling the hall, while spirited music and dynamic lighting set the stage for a thrilling event.  As the cheers from the horde of team members died down and the lights dimmed Jon Hall, from Hollywood Casino Charles Town Races, took center stage to kick-off the celebration.  The event was lead by the many department heads who took the stage to introduce members of their team to the lively crowd and asked the question on everyone’s mind “Are You Ready?” After, all of the managers pumped up the crowd with flash mobs and stage performances, Archie Griffin took to the stage to share a few words of encouragement with the exuberant crowd.  Finally, to close out the Pep Rally Ameet Patel, General Manager of Hollywood Casino Columbus, walked onto stage to booming applause.  Ameet shared the unlikely beginnings of the casino and reiterated the encouraging words shared by his fellow team members who had graced the stage–finally concluding the meeting with a mock-phone call to the city of Columbus asking the question of the hour: Are You Ready?  The thousands of team members, in attendance at the rally, in an explosion of energy and excitement, confirmed they were ready for business.

Almost a week prior to the grand opening of the casino the facility hosted a invitation-only demo day, a day where there would be limited gambling with all proceeds going to benefit five local charities.  LIVE! Technologies was on-site to transform the 10,000 sp. foot Event Center into a lavish backdrop for the high-spirited crowd of eager gamers wanting to get a first look at the brand new casino.  VIPs filled the O.H. Lounge to listen to music provided by local favorites Conspiracy, Paradise Island and Sound Connection–getting a front row seat for the event attended by both local and national celebraties.  Jon Hall, once again, was the host for the evening inviting Archie Griffin to the stage for opening remarks for the evenings festivities–using the installed video system throughout the casino LIVE! Technologies broadcasted the speaker’s remarks across the hundreds of video monitors all over the gaming floor.  After concluding his remarks Archie Griffin welcomed Arnold Schwarzenegger to the stage, the former governor is a well-known face around Columbus–visiting the city each year with the bodybuilding competition that bears the film-star’s name.  Ameet Patel, the GM of Hollywood Casino Columbus, was the last to take the stage and welcomed the spectators to Ohio’s newest casino location.

As the fervor from the VIP event died down it was finally time to open the doors to the first casino in Columbus and LIVE! Technologies, once again, brought their distinct production stylings to the star-studded ribbon cutting ceremony. Gathered in the O.H. Lounge representatives from Penn National Gaming, owners of the Hollywood Casino, joined Mayor Michael Coleman on stage–along with Columbus-native, heavy weight boxer Buster Douglas, and Las Vegas entertainer Ann Margret.  Jon Hall, again preforming hosting duties, welcomed the crowd to the hugely awaited event–an end result of a $400 million investment by Penn Gaming and three years of development.  Two Vegas-style showgirls passed out ceremonial scissors to all of the dignitaries on stage, as Jon Hall counted down to the grand opening of Hollywood Casino.  Fireworks played on the video monitors throughout the 475,000 sq. foot gaming facility as the doors were, finally, opened to the enthusiastic gaming public.

LIVE! Technologies is always proud to bring its distinguished production stylings to any event.  The opening ceremonies of Hollywood Casino Columbus were no different, it gave LIVE! Technologies, once again, an opportunity to share the national spotlight and showcase its top-notch event production abilities.

Filed under: events,galas special events,liveblog,portfolio

LIVE! Technologies Scores With The Morning Sports Report

Columbus, Ohio – LIVE! Technologies proudly produced the 7th Annual Morning Sports Report for The Greater Columbus Sports Commission and Experience Columbus. This year’s event not only gave the inside scoop on the Columbus sports scene, but also honored all of  the living Heisman Trophy winners from The Ohio State University. This  first-ever reunion included Archie Griffin, Howard “Hopalong” Cassady, Eddie George, and Troy Smith.

When LIVE! was asked to produce the event, their Creative Services department realized this was an excellent opportunity to develop a multi-media set.  The look and feel of the scenic design invoked a polished sports studio.  The rear screen reflected the sport venues and institutions famous in Columbus. To create depth, eight monitors (suspended on truss) displayed images reflecting the local sports figures and their accomplishments. All the screens were seamlessly choreographed by LIVE! Technologies’ WATCHOUT system.  The WATCHOUT programs video, photos, Keynote presentations, and graphics into a flexible and dynamic display.

Along with the Heisman Trophy winners, Scott Arniel – Head Coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets, Ken Schnacke – President and General Manager of the Columbus Clippers, Mark McCullers – President and General Manager of the Columbus Crew, and Jim Tressel – Head Football Coach, of The Ohio State University were all featured panelists.

Filed under: events,galas,galas special events,liveblog,portfolio,press releases